Chapter 511 - Challenging The Third Grade (1/2)

Once Tang Wulin left the Battle Hall and returned to his busy life, he strived to learn and grow as fast as possible alongside his cla.s.smates in the first grade.

Although it was Wu Zhangkong's first time teaching at Shrek Academy, Shen Yi had left all teaching responsibilities to him. The students were much more diligent compared to when she had led the cla.s.s, so she needn't get involved. Watching their growth though the days brought a smile to her lips.

The teams of Tang Wulin and the rankers led their cla.s.s in terms of growth. With their current pace, it was very possible that they would make it into the inner court!

Half of the academic year pa.s.sed by in the blink of an eye.

“Tang Wulin, come to my office after cla.s.s,” Wu Zhangkong said one day at the end of lecture.

“Yes, Teacher Wu.” In the past several months, Tang Wulin had grown a few centimeters and now stood nearly 1.8 meters tall. His face had shed much of its baby fat, revealing handsome and sharp features that further accentuated his large, clear eyes and high-bridged nose. He was already more charming than the Ice Prince Wu Zhangkong. If not for his immature age, Tang Wulin would have been the focus of affection for just as many ladies as Wu Zhangkong. Among those the same age as him, however, he was a prince.

“Any idea what Teacher Wu wants you for?” Xie Xie asked, elbowing Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin shrugged as he put away his textbooks. “No clue. I'll see soon enough I guess. Well, catch ya later.”

When Tang Wulin arrived at the office, Wu Zhangkong looked up from his desk and beckoned Tang Wulin over.

“Here, take this,” Wu Zhangkong said, a hand with a silver card outstretched toward Tang Wulin a silver card.

“Teacher Wu, what's this for?”

“Your mecha has been approved. Stick this into the slot in your mecha. It'll show up when you get scanned at checkpoints and they will let you through. Now you can fly anywhere on the continent.”

“Yes!” Tang Wulin grinned. His mecha had been finished months earlier, but bureaucratic red tape dragged out the process of issuing his legal permit. An incredible ha.s.sle. Despite having Wu Zhangkong's referral and his own heroic deeds in Heaven Dou City, Tang Wulin had waited months for his legal permit to be approved.

“Thank you, Teacher Wu.”

“Don't thank me just yet. There's something else I wanted to talk to you about. I remember in the beginning of the year you said you wanted to challenge the third grade. I asked Elder Cai for approval and she did. You can begin preparing now. But it won't just be the first grade challenging the third. You'll be teaming up with the second grade for the match.”

“What's the format of the compet.i.tion then?” Tang Wulin asked.

“Three one-on-one battles, one two-on-two battle, and a final match between seven-man teams. You'll combine forces with Wu Siduo's team for the compet.i.tion. The second graders will send some people as well. This compet.i.tion will be used as your annual a.s.sessment and will influence your end of semester exams.”

Tang Wulin forced back a gasp. The compet.i.tion format was the most traditional one there was!

“Does the second grade know yet?”

“They should be notified today as well,” Wu Zhangkong answered. “You can go discuss who will be partic.i.p.ating with Yuanen later.”

“Choosing is going to be hard. Both our cla.s.ses have more than enough people to fill in for all the battles. How are we supposed to choose?” Tang Wulin said, furrowing his brow.

“It doesn't matter to me,” Wu Zhangkong said, his face a stone mask. “Decide it yourselves. Strength will speak for itself.”

“Got it. I'll handle it.” For a compet.i.tion like this, the larger the pool of potential partic.i.p.ants, the better. This way, they could be more selective and choose the best of the best.

Tang Wulin left the office and returned to the working student dormitory, heading straight for Yuanen Yehui's room. He knocked on the door. After a few seconds without answer, he concluded she had yet to return. I guess I'll have to wait until she's back.

He returned to his own room, an unsettling sensation filling him upon entering. He rarely spent time here, always cultivating his nights away in the specialized cultivation s.p.a.ces. Mornings were spent in cla.s.s, and afternoons brought him out to a variety of locations for blacksmithing, pilot practice, or combat training. There was simply no need to return.

Tang Wulin wasn't the only busy person in his group. The rest of his friends were hustling to grow stronger. They had their own paths of cultivation and could only rely on themselves to walk them. Morning cla.s.ses marked the only period they spent time in the same location. For that reason, their room was unoccupied except for himself.

Tang Wulin lay in his bed and enjoyed the silence and calm. Relaxation was a luxury nowadays. He did his best to enjoy these moments when he could, mindful of Wu Zhangkong's warning not to overwork himself and burn out. Before he realized it, he fell asleep. It was a deep slumber without any dreams to disturb it.

When Tang Wulin woke up, he felt refreshed, a warm, cozy feeling enveloping him. That was great! He stretched and uncurled his body in bed. So what if his schedule had gone awry. He surely didn't mind at this point.

This afternoon he had planned to forge enough metals to ensure Ye Xinglan has an ample supply. So that it wouldn't matter if she failed a few while crafting the battle armor pieces. With her current success rate, Ye Xinglan averaged about ten days per piece. She was currently equipped with three pieces herself, the most out of any of them. Right gauntlet, right pauldron, and circlet.